The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

Chapter 679: FIRST QUARTER [STAR LIST]

A week had passed since the trailer for [Serendipitous Summer] was released, and interest in the movie had been steadily growing. The promotional campaign had officially begun, further fueling the excitement. Just the other day, Astrid and Charlotte appeared on a live variety show, captivating audiences and adding to the film’s buzz.

The variety show was a casual, mid-tier program that featured a mix of lighthearted interviews, entertaining challenges, and quick games designed to let guests showcase their personalities. With a modest but steady viewership, it had carved out a niche as a comfortable platform for celebrities to connect with their audience in a relaxed, unscripted environment.

The movie’s production team had already discussed with Ellis what his schedule would be during this promotional campaign, taking into account the release of EMMA’s new collection which he had no choice but to take part in since he was the collection’s ambassador.

The new collection was set to launch next week, right in the middle of the movie’s promotional campaign. In a way, though, it served as an extension of the movie’s promotion. The more frequently Astrid appeared in the public eye, the greater the curiosity about his upcoming film would grow.

It was going to be a hectic time for Astrid. This week alone, he already had three guest appearances scheduled. He’s already done with one, the variety show with Charlotte. The second one was scheduled for tomorrow. And the last one was for the release of this month’s edition of [Vivique], the fashion magazine that collaborated with EMMA for the new collection.

This was the same photoshoot he had done at one of the Grimaldi manors—the one that led to his grandfather discovering their connection. With the photoshoot being published this weekend, Astrid would also be doing a special interview as part of the promotion.

He’s not complaining, though. Astrid enjoyed the whirlwind of activities, seeing each appearance, interview, and photoshoot as an opportunity to connect with his fans. Their support and excitement were one of the things that fueled his passion, and he genuinely appreciated the chance to engage with them, even if only indirectly. The demanding schedule was tiring, sure, but it was also a reminder of how far he’d come in such a short time.

”Aster!”

Kiran’s voice calling his name broke through his thoughts as he stepped out of the lecture hall after his final class of the day. He glanced toward the source of the voice and spotted Kiran weaving through the small crowd of students, running toward him with a familiar, energetic grin.

”Kiran, I thought we were meeting in front of the lecture building where your last class was?” Astrid asked with a slight smile as Kiran came to a stop in front of him. That building was closer to the school’s main gate, which was why they had decided to meet there after class.

”My class ended early, so I thought I’d just come here to meet you,” Kiran said with a grin. ”Shall we go?”

Astrid let out a small, amused sigh and shook his head. ”Alright, let’s go,” he replied with a faint smile. The two of them then fell into step, making their way out of the building together.

”Any idea what time Snow will get to your apartment building?” Kiran asked after a moment.

”He said his schedule wraps up around six, so he’ll probably get there by 6:30,” Astrid replied.

The three of them had planned to have dinner at his apartment, with Astrid, naturally, doing the cooking. The reason for the celebration? The release of the year’s first-quarter [Star List]. Astrid had moved up two spots, now ranking at 98, and Snow had made it onto the list for the first time, securing a spot in the top 400.

The list had been released last Sunday, just before the new month began. When Astrid saw Snow’s name on it, he was so overjoyed that he completely forgot to check if his own name was there. Without hesitation, he called Snow to share the news and insisted they celebrate. Snow, however, sounded completely dazed on the other end of the line, as if he couldn’t quite believe he’d actually made the list. Later, Snow even called him back, just to confirm that they had made plans to celebrate and that it wasn’t something he had dreamed up—a clear sign of just how out of it he was.

Truthfully, it was unexpected, but not entirely surprising. Astrid had witnessed firsthand how much effort Snow had poured into his craft since signing with Polaris. If Snow had landed a major role—even a prominent supporting one—he undoubtedly would have ranked much higher. Once [Serendipitous Summer] was released, Astrid was certain it would propel Snow’s career forward. Perhaps not to the same heights that [The Sleeping God] had done for his own, but it would still be a significant leap in the right direction.

Since the three of them had conflicting schedules, today was the only day they could finally celebrate. Snow even had work today, so they decided to keep it simple and plan a dinner at Astrid’s apartment. That’s why he and Kiran were on their way to his apartment, while Snow would join them later after finishing his job.

”You know, it’s pretty amazing that Snow made it to the [Star List],” Kiran said, glancing at Astrid as they walked.

Astrid nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. ”It is. He’s worked so hard for it. Honestly, it was only a matter of time.”

Kiran let out a low whistle. ”Really, both of you are so amazing.”

Astrid chuckled. ”Well, I wouldn’t deny that. But I must add that you are as well. Just wait for the music award season. You’ll definitely rack a lot of awards.”

Kiran groaned. ”Argh... please don’t remind me of that. I want to eat with peace of mind later.”

The two of them looked at each other and then both of them laughed.

As they walked, Astrid couldn’t help but reflect on this quarter’s [Star List] again—or more specifically, on the reactions of certain people who had called him immediately after its release.